Nephi’s commitment is to teach his contemporaries and all future generations the principles of covenant righteousness so that they might enjoy the priceless blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus he turns to the writings of Isaiah to support his fervent testimony, beginning with what we now call Isaiah 48 and 49. These chapters describe how the Lord’s chosen people will be liberated and saved by the Messiah, who will gather them in once more from their scattered and chastened state with the help of the Gentile nations: “for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted” (1 Nephi 21:13).